Sailroad despatch-deliverer



R. L. WANAMAKER. RAILROAD DESPATCH DEL'IVERER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 19:9.

'rulz COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60-. 'ASHuvuTD-N, n. c.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

* UNTTED STATES PATENT OFETQE.

ROSCOE L. WANAIVIAKER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

RAILROAD DESPA'ICH-DELIVERER.

to be a full, clear, and exact description of.

the invention,. such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a device for supporting a despatch in such a position that it may be readily received by the operators on a moving train. It particularly has for its object to provide an arm for supporting the despatch which will be held in position for delivery and will, upon delivery, drop to a position such that it will be located somewhat remote from the track and consequently from trains that may pass by the delivering means other than the train to which the despatches are to be delivered. The invention has for its object to provide a means which will sustain a supporting arm in its proper position and yet which will be so supported that upon certain movements of the arm it will 'be released from the sustaining means that it will hang in a vertical position away from the track. The invention also has for its object to provide a signaling mea'nswhich will indicate that a despatch is to be delivered and which will also indicate when the despatch has been delivered.

The invention may be modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof, it being understood that the details thereof may partake of difierent forms and yet such equivalent structures will perform substantially the same results accomplished by my invention.

I have selected one form of structure that contains the invention, for purposes of illustration. The structure selected is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 of the drawings, is a side view of the despatch delivering device selected. Fig. 2 is a topbroken view of the despatch supporting arm shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of an engaging means for supporting the arms in a horizontal position. Fig. 4 is a top view showing means Specification of Letters Patent.

Y which the despatches are attached in such position that the members may be readily engaged or caught one by the engineer or fireman in the cab of the engine and the other by the conductor in a car or caboose of a train, or by suitable engaging means such as the hook 24 that may be located in the vicinity of the forward and rear end of the train. Swiveled members 5 and 6 are located on the ends of the brackets 3 and 4. The swiveled members 5 and 6 are provided with ears between which are fulcrumed the arms 7 and 8. The swiveled members 5 and 6 rotate on the bolts 9 and the arms 7 and 8 pivot on the pins 10. Above the brackets 3 and 4 arelocated the plates 11 and 12. Each plate is provided with an engaging lip 13. The lipl1-3 is a double curved lip, sinuous in form and provides a substantially semicylindrical part 14 in the center. The ends of the arms 7 and 8 are provided with rollers 15 that substantially fit the semi-cylindrical part 14 and are thus yieldingly held in position against lateral movement which might be caused by wind or otherwise until there is a positive pull such that it will cause the inner end of the arm to tilt down and the outer end to be raised. The arm is, moreover, made more secure and so as to resist a greater lateral movement by means of the spring 16 which operates to press the roller against the lip or flange 13.

The outer ends of the arms are provided with spring pressed fingers 17 that are pressed toward each other by means of the springs 18 that extend through the arms. The ends of the springs 18 are covered with inturned flanges 19 formed on the extensions of the fingers 17. The fingers 17 are pivoted to the arms by the bolts 20. The despatches may be secured by suitable clips 21 to rings 22. The rings may be placed between the fingers 17 and clamped by the operation of the springs 18. In the opera Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Application filed April 2, 1919. Serial No. 286,823.

tion of the despatch delivering device, the conductor or the trainman seizes the ring 22 and being carried along by the train, pulls with some force the outer ends of the arms in the direction in which the train is moving and thereby causing the rollers to be forced from the recesses or semi-cylindrical portions of the flanges or lips 13. On further movement the rings 22 are pulled from between the fingers 17. Immediately on release of the ring from the arms, the arms by their weight and by the operation of the springs 16 hang vertically beside the pole or post 1.

If desired, an engaging member 14, illustrated in Fig. 4, may be mounted on the train for engagement of the rings 22.

By my invention I have also provided a signaling device that may be controlled by the station agent to indicate to a train that a despatch is to be delivered to it. Means is provided whereby a particular train may be selected out of any number of passing trains and the particular train signaled that a despatch is to be delivered to it. My invention also provides a means whereby the signaling device will continue to operate until both messages are delivered, one to the engineer and the other to the conductor. The swiveled member 5 that supports the lower arm 7 which supports the despatch that is to be delivered to the conductor, may be insulated by a suitable insulating plate or strip 25 located between the swiveled member 5 and the bracket 3. Also the plate 11 may be insulated by insulating strip or material 26 located intermediate the plate 11 and the post 1. In a suitable position on the post 1, preferably on the top of the post, is located an electric lamp 27 The plate 11 may be connected to the lamp 27 and the swiveled member 5 may be connected to a switch or key 28 that may be located in the stationfi The lamp 27 and the terminal point of the switch 28 may be connected to the battery 29. The battery 29 may be located in the base 2. The circuit of the battery is completed through the swiveled member 5, the supporting arm 7 and the plate 11 and the switch 28 so that when the arm 7 is in position for delivering this despatch and the switch 28 is closed by the station agent, a light will be produced in the lamp 27. Then the light is seen by the engineer he will signal by whistle or otherwise, who will be informed that despatches are to be delivered to the train. The engineer will remove the despatch from the upper arm and the conductor will remove the despatch from the lower arm. When the despatch is removed from the lower arm, the lower arm is swung laterally and the circuit of the battery 29 is broken between the arm and the plate 11 and the light-goes out.

I claim In a despatch delivering device, a bracket, a second bracket swiveled for horizontal rotative movements to the first named bracket, an arm, means for pivotally supporting the arm on the second named bracket, a triple curved lip forming a recess having a curved surface on its under side for engaging the inner end of the arm to maintain the arm in a substantially hori- Zontal position, the inner end of the, arm having a roller fitting the recess to yieldingly prevent lateral movements of the arm, a spring mounted in the swiveled bracket and operating to press the inner end of the arm upward and to press the roller against the li In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

ROSCOE L. W'ANAMAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

